Unitary composite connector for a liquid circuit, in particular for medical applications

A unitary composite connector for a liquid circuit, in particular for medical applications, the connector comprising:

• means constituting a tubular chamber extending between an upstream coupling means extending from said chamber toward an upstream end of said connector and a downstream coupling means extending from said chamber toward a downstream outlet opening of said connector, said upstream coupling means including an upstream passage extending from said upstream end to said chamber and said downstream coupling means including a downstream passage extending from said chamber to said downstream outlet opening;
• a hollow needle which is fixed in said upstream passage and which is disposed in said chamber for causing said upstream passage to be in fluid communication with said downstream passage;
• and
• a plug being made of material that permits said needle to be passed through it and that recaptures its closure properties whenever said needle is not passing through it, said plug being mounted in said downstream passage so as to be capable of sliding between a downstream stable closure position where the plug closes said downstream passage, where said needle does not pass through said plug, and where said plug completely fills said downstream outlet opening so as to prevent any dead volume at said downstream outlet opening to thereby prevent bacteria from entering said downstream passage, and an upstream position where said needle does pass through said plug and towards which said plug can be pushed by a member inserted in said downstream passage from outside said connector through said downstream outlet opening, and spring means situated in said chamber resiliently urging said plug towards its downstream stable closure position.